Rookie running back Dante Miller excited to give Giants a preseason ‘Turbo’ show

He was already ready, more than two days in advance of fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams. 

Can you blame Dante Miller — a rookie running back called “Turbo’’ by everyone — for his unbridled enthusiasm, as he considered Thursday night’s Giants preseason opener against the Lions at MetLife Stadium? 

“Shoot, I’m already excited,’’ Miller said late Tuesday morning, moments after coming off the practice field. “It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to do this, [for] a guy who lost his eligibility a year ago and couldn’t play, it’s a blessing to even be here.’’ 

Indeed, there was no way for Miller to project he would ever be suiting up for the Giants, considering the winding road he took to get this far.

He spent four years playing at Columbia in the Ivy League, but one of those seasons was canceled by the COVID pandemic. 

He transferred to South Carolina, thinking he had two years of eligibility remaining, but after a series of miscommunications, the NCAA ruled otherwise, and he ended up playing just six games for the Gamecocks in 2022 before sitting out in 2023. 

He was not cleared to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Giants signed the 5-foot-9, 200-pound Miller, who is hoping to find his way into a backfield that has veteran Devin Singletary as the starter and a bunch of inexperienced guys behind him. 

These summer games are made for hopefuls such as Miller. Figure that he will get the ball, as will second-year Eric Gray and rookie fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy.

In his first NFL training camp, Miller has lived up to his nickname. He is fast — clocked at 4.27 in the 40-yard dash. Now, can he run his way onto the Giants? 

“Crazy,’’ Miller said. “Because my family is from Brooklyn, so they’re Giants fans. They always talked about the Giants when I was younger. I don’t know, it’s gonna be surreal to even be in that situation. First NFL game, you can’t take that lightly.’’ 

Miller, 25, has a shot at the roster or the practice squad. He made two plays in the joint practices with the Lions that flashed his potential. A burst up the middle Monday on an inside run would have gone for a touchdown and excited the Giants sideline. 

Tuesday, Miller showed his instincts on a sharp cut to the left. He raced down the sideline and into the end zone, but stepped out of bounds along the way. 

“I was 30 yards down the field when I did step out, though,’’ Miller said, smiling. “I’m not too concerned about that. Go out there and make plays.’’ 

Gray has some stats on his NFL résumé (17 rushing attempts in 2023), and Tracy is a former wide receiver, giving him an advantage as a pass-catcher. “Turbo” has that burst, which he believes already translates to the big leagues. 

“I do have elite speed, and that’s just gonna be one of my things,’’ Miller said. “I’m blessed to have that. I’m lucky enough to be able to go out there and display it.’’ 

At this point, the front office has steered clear of signing a veteran running back to complement Singletary. 

“These young guys have performed well when called upon, and this will be an important preseason for all of them,’’ coach Brian Daboll said, then defined what he wants to see: “Playing the running back position at the highest level you can, and everything that goes along with it — protection, runs, routes, everything that goes into being a capable running back in this league.’’ 

This preseason opener will be more for Miller and other youngsters trying to squeeze onto the roster than those players assured of spots preparing for the real thing.

Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has been a training camp sensation and torched the Lions in two days of joint practices.

He was given a heavy workload this week but is unlikely to play much, if at all, in this game. 

Daniel Jones, coming off reconstructive knee surgery, has held up all summer, taking every rep with the starting offense, showing no hesitancy to escape the pocket and run when the play breaks down.

After Jones performed in back-to-back days facing the Lions, Daboll probably saw enough to keep his quarterback off the field for the first preseason game. 

A year ago, the Giants participated in two joint practices with the Lions in Allen Park, Mich., and in the ensuing preseason game, Daboll kept all his established starters off the field. Nabers is a first-year player, but he already is a starter. 

Daboll will call the plays on offense, taking over those responsibilities held the past two seasons by offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.

Some of those plays will designate Miller as the running back to take the handoff and run with the ball. 

“I just hope to show I took in the playbook well,’’ Miller said, “and I go out there and put my best foot forward.’’